About Collective Worship in Schools

Acts Of Worship

Sooner or later, you will be asked to prepare an act of worship for a local school. Although many people think the Act of Worship is part of the RE provision, this is not so. However, good planning and liaison will make the most of the opportunity for both you and the RE department.

Getting Ready

Step 1: Prepare yourself

ASK FOR documentation on
  • the school's worship policy
  • school aims
ARRANGE TO
  • talk to the worship co-ordinator
  • attend an equivalent act of worship beforehand

Step 2: Visit the school to meet the staff and check the environment

Ask questions about a) Technical points

Participants: how long does it take pupils to assemble and disperse?

For secondary schools, particularly, lessons must start on time, however keen pupils may be on worship over-running!

Timing: Who will be there? What age (do you know how old Year 9 pupils are?) How many staff will be present?

There is a practice in some schools (usually primary) of all staff departing and leaving the worship leader high and dry at the front of the hall. This is to be deplored! Quite apart from Health and Safety, or discipline issues, it signals to pupils that

  1. we don't extend to visitors even the basic courtesy of listening to what they have to say or
  2. worship is something children do (or have done to them) and adults clear off whenever there's a chance.
Notices, instructions and other school customs:
  • Do these form part of the worship assembly? Will you be required to do anything about them?
  • Do the participants usually sing - if so what, and how are they accompanied?
  • How does the event usually begin - and end? Do you hand over to the school staff or dismiss the pupils back to classes? How?

Ask questions about b) Content

Is your worship part of the termly plan (it should be!)
What is the theme, and what aspects have already been included? Are there specific aspects you are asked to cover, or that it would be useful to cover?
Are there any school customs to take into consideration
e.g. Do the participants usually sing - if so what, and how are they accompanied? Or does the head usually say something? If so, when?
VIEW THE PLACE where worship happens
Equipment: What is available and where is it? Decide whether you feel able to operate it yourself or who to ask for help. Remember to check lighting arrangements and visibility issues if you are intending to use an audiovisual aid or the power of amplification if you are going to use music etc..

Step 3: Detailed Planning

Now you are ready for detailed planning. This checklist should help:

On the basis of your preparation, decide first principles
What exactly am I trying to do through this act of worship?
  • replicate the worship in my church?
  • inform pupils about some aspect of my belief or practice?
  • stimulate them to think - religiously/spiritually/more deeply?
  • show pupils the error of their ways and present Christianity as the answer?
  • be an attractive role model for religion/faith/Christianity?

The answer to this question is to be found by looking through the school's worship policy and adopting the aim or aims you can work towards with integrity.

Example: from Sunderland and Durham Guidelines

Schools would not be seeking through broadly Christian worship:

  • To compel students to worship
  • To convert them to Christianity
  • To assume belief

but would be seeking

  • To present them with the beliefs of the Christian faith in a manner suitable to their ages
  • To relate those beliefs to the student's experiences of life
  • To provide sufficient stimulus for reflection
  • To provide the opportunity for a response to take place
  • To provide the opportunity for that response to be either Christian or some other kind.
What material shall I select?

Is the material suitable...

- for the pupils?

  • Their aptitude and understanding
  • Their concentration span
  • Any involvement they might have in the act of worship
  • Providing some variety (i.e. from other acts of worship they have or that you might have given before)

- to the subject?

  • Suitable for the aim and theme
  • Leading to a coherent whole
  • Linking with any follow-up material planned by the school
How will I deliver it?

What resources do I need on the day, e.g.

  • OHP
  • pupils to read / perform
  • flipchart
  • slide projector

Who do I liaise with / ask for help

  • beforehand?
  • on the day?